Waymo believes that robotic cars will require interfaces of a new type

POSTER:computer news || WAYMO BELIEVES THAT ROBOTIC CARS WILL REQUIRE INTERFACES OF A NEW TYPE

DATE:2017-05-17

The successor to Google in this field of robocar is Waymo, and the company representatives told Bloomberg employees about the measures taken to calm the passengers of the first "robotic taxis" on the basis of Chrysler Pacifica minivans, which have already begun to serve as an experiment for ordinary Arizona residents. If we consider that the other day Waymo announced a partnership with Lyft, then the urgency of developing new "user interfaces" for the interior of the car increases
additionally.

In one of the prototypes, as explained by Bloomberg, Waymo brings to the large display the situation around the car, the images are superimposed in real time with the outlined contours - the closer to the car with the autopilot the object or person, the brighter the selection. The system then explains its main actions with text subtitles. For example, it gives passengers to understand that it stopped to give priority to pedestrians or was forced to wait until the animal crossed the road. In
the opinion of Waymo, such comments should create a more comfortable psychological microclimate inside the robocar.

Waymo improves sensors used by its prototypes. For example, the "lidar" located on the roof (see photo) is equipped with washers and brushes, capable of clearing it of dirt and waste birds products . Lidars of the new generation are able to identify obstacles and objects within a radius of 180 meters.